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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
MR. BERNACCHI:-On a point of order, Mr. Chairman, I rise to question the first and second items on the agenda. This meeting was adjourned from three weeks ago, and we are discussing the motion which is before this Council. Further speeches are to be made and a vote then taken. Therefore, we have reached item (3) of the order of business, and in my submission you cannot go back to items (1) and (2). This was, however, approved by Standing Committee and I propose that the Standing Orders be waived insofar as 1 and 2 of this agenda are concerned, because in my submission it would otherwise be improper either to have any papers laid on the table or to have any questions asked.
CHAIRMAN:-Will some member please second?
DR. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, I rise to second.
CHAIRMAN:-Thank you. We will now proceed with the agenda as approved by Standing Committee following the paper CW/61/66, that was dated the 3rd September, 1966.
MR. BERNACCHI:-We should vote.
CHAIRMAN: May we please have a vote on Mr. BERNACCHI'S motion to suspend Standing Orders?
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, may I rise on a point of order too? May I say that it was most fascinating to hear my senior elected colleague speak on his point of order. I was most intrigued by the fact that you subscribed to it. Mr. BERNACCHI's submission was most unnecessary because before the meeting adjourned the last time, Sir, you asked for Council's permission to treat this coming meeting as an ordinary meeting of the Council and you asked that questions be put to you.
From the Chair the permission that you sought from the Council need not have been seconded. It was not seconded and Council gave you approval nemine contradicente, so that the last vote was completely unnecessary. Nevertheless, as Mr. BERNACCHI has already made his point before television and the press, who am I to question it? (Laughter).
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and Gentlemen, before we take the first item on the agenda, I would like to welcome Mr. SALES back from Bangkok
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(Laughter), where he attended the 1966 Asian Games as the Chef-de-Mission of the Hong Kong Team and gained honour for himself and Hong Kong by being appointed Senior Vice-President of the Asian Games Federation. (Applause).
MR. SALES-Thank you, Sir.
PAPERS.
The Chairman laid upon the table the following paper:
Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of November 1966.
QUESTIONS.
(1) MR. PETER NG PING-KIN asked the following question:-
Is the Chairman aware of the constant accumulation of broken pieces of glass on the path and grass area along the Typhoon Shelter portion of Victoria Park? It appears that broken pieces of glass accumulate continuously for a few days without being removed. What effective measures are being considered to:
(a) Clean up the Park daily, especially on the portion along the Typhoon Shelter?
(b) Prevent the dumping of broken pieces of glass in Victoria Park by the public?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
The problem of broken glass is mixed up with the general task of clearing litter. At present, up to 15 members of the staff are engaged each morning in clearing the entire park of litter. They start work at 7 a.m. and the park is normally cleared of rubbish by 9 a.m. There should be no possibility of any rubbish accumulating from day to day, but judging from a visit I made to the park late yesterday afternoon a little does, especially some broken glass along the fence bordering the typhoon shelter. It seems that the cleansing staff might be more effectively employed with closer supervision. Fortunately in its draft estimates the department has already asked for a post of Foreman to be provided specifically for Victoria Park in the coming financial year.
As regards prevention of dumping-the source of the glass appears, at the present season, to be not park users but
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